Apparatus for spinning loose fibres

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for spinning thread from loose fibres and in which the twist of the fibres in the thread is increased or decreased by being passed over and in contact with an angular projection in the outlet duct through which the thread passes.

United States Patent [191 Le Chatelier Jan. 21, 1975 APPARATUS FORSPINNING LOOSE FIBRES Inventor: Jacques Le Chatelier, Riedisheirn,

France Societe Alsacienne De Constructions Mecaniques De Mulhouse,Mulhouse, Cedex, France Filed: Nov. 28, 1973 Appl. No.: 419,546

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1972 France .1 72.42546 US.Cl. 57/5889 Int. Cl D01h 1/12 Field Of Search 57/58.89, 58.95

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,336,741 8/1967 Zavadsky57/58.89 3,778,989 12/1973 Schon .L 57/5889 Primary Examiner-Donald E.Watkins Attorney, Agent, or Firml-lolman & Stern 57 ABSTRACT Apparatusfor spinning thread from loose fibres and in which the twist of thefibres in the thread is increased or decreased by being passed over andin contact with an angular projection in the outlet duct through whichthe thread passes.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANZI I915 3.861.131

SHEET 1 [IF 2 APPARATUS FOR SPINNING LOOSE FIBRES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus forspinning loose fibres to form continuous thread, with the thread havinga degree of twist that is not obtainable from known continuous spinningapparatus.

Prior Apparatus In known apparatus for spinning loose fibres to formthread, the thread is reeled on storage spools in the form in which itis formed. Subsequent treatment is necessary if any modification isrequired to the tension or twist of the thread or compacting of thefibres.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatusfor spinning loose fibres to form continuous thread and the treatment ofthe thread to cause modification to the twist of the thread bycompacting, straightening or further twisting of the fibres. Theinvention lacks the cost and complexity of further apparatus andre-reeling of stowed thread to modify thread formed from spun loosefibres.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes withclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which isregarded as the present invention, certain details of preferredembodiments of the invention may be more readily ascertained from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective of a flexible thread being drawnover and in contact with an angular projection.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic vertical part section of a plant for gaseoustreatment of thread and incorporating an angular projection aftertreatment.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical part section of a plant for liquidtreatment of thread and incorporating an angular projection within theliquid reservoir.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section of a spinning device showing inletand outlet ducts and an angular projection.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section of an alternative spinning device.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section of an alternative spinning devicewith adjustable angular projection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows strands 1 of a spun or twistedflexible thread 2 passed under applied tension T over and in contactwith edge 3 of angular projection 4 formed by a transversly arrangedprism. The thread 2 is passed over the prism 4 at an oblique angle asshown more clearly in FIG. 2 in such a manner that the direction ofmovement of thread 2 is changed as indicated by angle D.

Variation of tension T in the thread 2 causes variation of pressure Rover edge 3 of the angular projection 4 and deformation of the threadcan be controlled as desired. The edge 3 presents a substantially abruptedge but a small radius is preferrably incorporated. A

high pressure R results in an elliptical cross-section of thread.Preferred results are obtained by providing the edge 3 with as small aradius as possible and applicant has discovered that a radius within therange of 0.5 to 20 times the apparent diameter of the thread is mostsatisfactory. At all times the radius should be sufficiently large toprevent damage to the product. Decrease in angle D results in a smallerdeformation ofthe thread but increases twist in the thread producing amore compact product. Thread pulled over the edge 3 of angularprojection 4 results in the fibres in the upper part of the thread beingstretched, deformed or pulled out to a greater extent than the fibres onthe inner ra dius, with the inner fibres being contracted rather thanpulled out results in increased compacting and additional twist of thefibres.

Referring to FIG. 1, the thread is moving away from the edge 3 in aperpendicular direction but if the direction of motion is oblique asshown in FIG. 2 the flattening of the thread is accentuated and improvedtwist compacting is attained.

FIG. 3 illustrates the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 incorporated in aplant for treatment oftextile thread. The edge 3 of the angularprojection 4 is located at an exit 25 of a gaseous reservoir 21, withthe gas entering through opening 22 and exhausting or being recirculated via an outlet 23. The thread 2 from a feed spool 19 passes throughguide 18, roller 17 and feed cylinders 16, through a reservoir inlet 24,over and in contact with edge 3 of the prism 4, through rollers 14 to athread receiving spool 13. Tension is applied to the thread by apparatus11 comprising items 3, 4, 14 and 13 and a check or brake apparatus isgenerally indicated at 12 comprising items 19, 17 and 16. A thread brakedevice may be incorporated.

Referring to FIG. 3, the edge 3 of the projection 4 is concave to assistin maintaining a stable position of the thread 2 on the edge 3. FIG. 4shows a variant of the plant described with reference to FIG. 3. Fibreis treated by being passed through liquid 31 in a reservoir 32, with theedge 3 of the angular projection 4 being substantially immersed in theliquid 31.

Referring to FIGS.-3 and 4, if the gas or fluid treatment formsconnections or bonds between the spun loose fibres, a strong product isobtained, the fibres being greater or of a higher degree than prior toentry to the gaseous or liquid reservoirs 21 and 32 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5, a spinning device is shown which comprises a hollowtruncated rotating body 35 fed with loose fibres by a duct 36tangentially arranged to project within the body 35 which rotates athigh speed. The fibres are compounded during spinning to form thread 2A,with the thread 2A passing over an end 39 of an outlet duct 37 and overand in contact with the edge 3 of an angular projection 41 housed in achamber 43, with the chamber being closed by cap 42. Thread 2 and 2A issubjected to tension devices (not shown) and passes through outlet duct37 located on the axial center-line, coincident with the center-line ofthe rotating body 35. After passing over and in contact with the edge 3of the projection 41, the treated thread 2 is drawn out through anoblique pipe 38 provided in the wall of the cap 42 and is wound on astorage spool (not shown). As the thread is being formed in part bycentrifugal force within high speed rotating body 35 and is alsosubjected to friction against the end 39 of the out let duct 37,sufficient tension is created over the edge 3. Spinning is set in motionby introducing a piece of thread in the pipe 38 with the thread beingsucked into the chamber 43 and outlet duct 37 to rest against the innerwall of the body 35.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of the above spinning device which differs infunctioning in that the thread 2A passes downwardly through outlet duct37 over and in contact with the edge 3 of angular projection 41 and isdrawn through oblique pipe 38 located below inlet duct 36.

FIG. 7 shows a further variant of the device shown in FIGS. and 6. Theedge 3A is formed as an integral part of the oblique pipe 38A projectingin the chamber 43. The position of the annular projection which formspart of pipe 38A is manually adjustable to suit varying forms and typesof thread.

In all the above examples, the thread being formed has a twistcoefficient higher than that normally obtained on traditional continuousspinning machines. This is, in part, attained by the degree ofcentrifugal force applied to the fibres in the rotating body, with thefibres being tightly urged against the inner truncated wall of therotating body enabling simple and efficient compounding of the fibres toform a length of thread sufficient to enable it to detach itself fromthe rotating body wall by twisting the thread on itself.

By the use of the word fibre is meant a thread like filament of animal,vegetable, textile or synthetic form or any combination of suchfilaments. Metal fibres or fibres of glass may be used as additives tonatural and- /or synthetic fibres.

By the use of the word thread is meant any spun filaments formingthread, cord, string, twine, ribbon, webbing, lacing or long slenderflexible body.

While there have been described what are believed to be preferredembodiments of this invention. variations and modifications therein willoccur to those skilled in the art once they have become familiar withthe invention. It is intended that the appended claims shall beconstrued to include all such variations and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An open-end spinning device for spinning a thread, comprising ahollow rotating body having an axis, a fibre inlet duct opening intosaid hollow rotating body, a thread-guiding duct coaxial with saidhollow rotating body, said thread-guiding duct having an inlet endlocated in said hollow rotating body and an outlet end. a chamber sealedabout said outlet end of said threadguiding duct, said chamber having athread exit opening offset with respect to said axis of said hollowrotat ing body, said thread exit opening and said outlet end of saidthread-guiding duct defining therebetween a portion of the path oftravel of the thread, and an angular projection arranged slantingcross-wise in said portion of the path of travel of the thread.

2. The open-end spinning device as claimed in claim 1, further includingmeans for adjustably positioning said angular projection in saidchamber. 7 3. The open-end spinning device as claimed in claim 1,including a tube inserted in said thread exit opening and protrudinginto said chamber, said tube having an oblique end edge whichconstitutes said angular projection.

4. The open-end spinning device as claimed in claim 3, in which saidtube is adjustably positioned in said

1. An open-end spinning device for spinning a thread, comprising ahollow rotating body having an axis, a fibre inlet duct opening intosaid hollow rotating body, a thread-guiding duct coaxial with saidhollow rotating body, said thread-guiding duct having an inlet endlocated in said hollow rotating body and an outlet end, a chamber sealedabout said outlet end of said threadguiding duct, said chamber having athread exit opening offset with respect to said axis of said hollowrotating body, said thread exit opening and said outlet end of saidthread-guiding duct defining therebetween a portion of the path oftravel of the thread, and an angular projection arranged slantingcross-wise in said portion of the path of travel of the thread.
 2. Theopen-end spinning device as claimed in claim 1, further including meansfor adjustably positioning said angular projection in said chamber. 3.The open-end spinning device as claimed in claim 1, including a tubeinserted in said thread exit opening and protruding into said chamber,said tube having an oblique end edge which constitutes said angularprojection.
 4. The open-end spinning device as claimed in claim 3, inwhich said tube is adjustably positioned in said thread exit opening.